! Aware to Perl: How do I select a random line from a file?

How do I select a random line from a file?

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Here's an algorithm from the Camel Book:

    srand;
    rand($.) < 1 && ($line = $_) while <>;

This has a significant advantage in space over reading the whole file in.

Source: Perl FAQ: Files and Formats
Copyright: Copyright (c) 1997 Tom Christiansen and Nathan Torkington.

(Corrections, notes, and links courtesy of RocketAware.com)

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